Downlands Community School in Hassocks are celebrating after scooping Youth in Action's prestigious school of the month award.

They beat off competition from several other schools to win the cup thanks to a number of impressive individual and team achievements.

Among the pupils who helped earn the prize were hockey player Chay Lewandowski, who is in the county under-14 squad, and footballer Lee Bryant, who is in the England development squad.

Daniel Bush and Daniel Wood both made the County Development rugby squad and Paul Dixon is training with the Sussex swimming team.

Tennis duo Michael Webster and Andrew Westcott play tennis for the county and Nicholas Buss and Ben Palmer are both in the Mid Sussex athletics squad.

Cricketers Simon White and Nicholas Campion played for Sussex schools in the summer, while Daniel Shotton plays for the Brighton Bears junior basketball team.

Female pupil Sarah Fielding Smith jumped a personal best of 1.71m in the high jump at the English Schools event earlier this year and Hannah Morley, Nicky Cumberland and Rachel Swerling represented Sussex at cross country, athletics and swimming respectively.

Jodie Miller competed in the national schools swimming championships in Sheffield last weekend.

Meanwhile, the school under-15 netball team, who beat Roedean to win the county tournament last term, are through to the second round of the Sussex Cup.

Downlands, in Dale Avenue, caters for 11-16 year olds and boasts an ex-professional footballer as their headmaster so it is little wonder they pride themselves on sporting excellence.

Walter Clarke, a former player with Scottish club Airdrie, is in charge and he is overseeing the building of a multi-million pound sports hall to improve the facilities.

The late millionaire Matthew Harding, whose children went to the school, left some funds to the establishment who have put in an application for planning permission. Spokesperson Tom Martin said: "The pupils were very pleased with the award and they feel it is recognition of their achievements.

"We cater for lots of sports and the school is going from strength to strength. We already have a sports mark from the government recognising our record of sporting excellence. It is basically a stamp of approval and it takes pride of place in the school.

"The new sports hall with make our facilities even better and hopefully we can continue to produce talented young sportsmen and women."

To nominate your school for this award contact James Nursey on 01273 544581.